Brazil v Serbia Tips November 24

We have already seen the hosts and the defending champions, now it is the turn of the favourites to enter the 2022 World Cup on Thursday as Brazil tackle Serbia.

The Selecao’s position as the tournament’s most-fancied side was strengthened earlier this week as Argentina surprisingly lost to Saudi Arabia. Brazil’s outright price has been cut, but that match will have also acted as a reminder that upsets can happen.

Serbia shouldn’t be underestimated. With attacking talent in the form of Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in their ranks, they boast a powerful forward line that is supported by the dangerous Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from midfield. They are not an opponent to be treated lightly.

Favourites are in form

Brazil come into World Cup 2022 on a seven-match winning streak, with their recent form showing a string of emphatic victories. Four-goal wins have come against Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, South Korea and in their most recent international versus Tunisia in Paris. This is a team with blistering offensive potential, spearheaded by the in-form Neymar.

As a nation, Brazil are also the most storied at the World Cup. They have won the title on five occasions, but have a chequered record since their last victory in 2022, notably losing a semi-final 7-1 to Germany in 2014. In Russia, they fell at the quarter-final stage to Belgium.

Brazil are one of just three nations to have lifted the World Cup trophy on a foreign continent, although, since they achieved the feat in 1994, it has been replicated on four occasions.

A questionable record

Serbia has ample World Cup experience – although not much of it has been positive. They have qualified for three of the previous four tournaments but have lost seven of their nine fixtures, the second worst tally of all nations behind only Australia.

Their passage through to Qatar 2022 was impressive, though. They accounted for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, who made it through the playoffs, by claiming a famous 2-1 win in Lisbon to seal their place at the competition.

On paper, their recent form is strong. They have won five of their last six matches, though the majority of these took place in the second tier of UEFA’s Nations League tournament against opponents a step down from the elite level.

Their preparations for this tournament were completed last week with a 5-1 win over Bahrain. Dusan Tadic scored two and created one, while Vlahovic got two assists and two goals.

Value on Neymar

Brazil look good value to win at 1.53, but they will likely be tested by a dangerous Serbia team. Goals appear likely at both ends of the field, and both teams to score is available at an attractive 1.91.

Given the Selecao’s propensity to score in bursts, they should certainly be favoured, and Brazil to win and over 2.5 goals in the game looks a very possible.

Backing Neymar to follow PSG teammates Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi by getting on the World Cup 2022 scoresheet in his opening match is available at 2.16. He is one of the game’s in-form players this season, with 15 goals in 20 matches in all competitions this season.